Respiratory helmet



Spt. 2, 1958 I P. SCHAEFER 2,350,011

RESPIRATORY HELMENT Filed Sept/ 25, 195s III .Schoefer INVENTOR ATTORNEY Refer United rates Patent 1 2,850,011 RESPIRATORY HELMET Peter Schaefer, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada Application September 25, 1956, Serial No. 611,870 2 Claims. (Cl. 128-142) This invention relates generally to respiratory equipment and is more particularly concerned with a novel respiratory helmet which is readily positionable on a users head, affording maximum vision therethrough, the interior thereof sealingly engaging a users neck, the respiratory helmet readily aflording means whereby a user has an opportunity to leave a smoke or gas filled house during fires, for example, and also providing means for protecting ones respiratory system during an atomic warfare attack.

A primary object of invention is to provide a novel respiratory helmet including a dome-shaped cap including a lower transverse wall incorporating a central expansible apertured portion facilitating the entrance of a users head therethrough wherein the user is afforded maximum visibility through the hehnet, the helmet incorporating an integral storage tank containing a pressurized breathing mixture, valve means extending between the storage tank and the interior of the cap for controlling the flow of the breathing mixture into the cap, and oneway valve means extending through the wall of the cap, permitting exhaust air to be expelled from the interior of the cap to the exterior thereof during the process of breathing by a user of the helmet.

A further object of invention is conformance with that set forth is to provide a respiratory helmet of the character involved which is readily and economically manufactured, easily used, and highly satisfactory, safe and acceptable for the purpose intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will subsequently become apparent reside in details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a users head showing the novel respiratory helmet disposed thereon;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the novel respiratory helmet;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the novel respiratory helmet;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 2, showing the details of the one-way exhaust valve of the respiratory helmet; and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken through the control valve of the respiratory helmet utilized for controlling the amount of a pressurized breathing mixture discharged into the interior of the helmet.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a wearer of the novel respiratory helmet is indicated generally as W, the respiratory helmet being indicated generally at 10.

The respiratory helmet comprises a dome-shaped cap 12 constructed from any suitable transparent plastic, for example, and incorporates an integral transverse and lower wall 14 including a central expansible aperture portion 16 sealingly engaging a users neck and permitting the entrance and exit of his head therethrough.

Integrally formed with the cap 12 in circumposed relationship about the inner periphery thereof is a torusshaped hollow pressure storage tank 18 for containing oxygen or other suitable breathing mixture, the tank 18 having extending through the wall portion 20 thereof a suitable control valve assembly indicated generally at 22.

The control valve 22 incorporates a tubular stem portion 24, see Figure 5, including a lower annular flange Patented Sept. 2, 1958 26, the tubular stem 24 extending through a suitable aperture portion 28 in the wall 20 ofthe storage tank 18, the tubular stem 24 including a threaded portion 30 on the outer periphery thereof for receiving thereon a circumposedwasher and sealing gasket 32. The washer and sealing gasket 32 clampingly engage one side of the wall 20 of the storage tank, the opposite portion thereof being engaged by the annular flange 26. The tubular stem 24 incorporates a longitudinally extending bore portion 34 having longitudinally disposed therein a conventional standard valve assembly indicated generally at 36 such as a stem valve found in inner tubes, for example. The stem valve 36 includes an actuating portion 38 extending above the upper end 40 thereof, and the outer periphery of the tubular stem 24 is threaded adjacent its upper end as indicated in 42, receiving thereon a tubular sleeve portion 44 of an actuating cap 46, said cap 46 including an integral longitudinally extending abutment stem 48 engageable with portion 38 of the valve assembly. The actuating cap 46 incorporates through the upper end thereof aperture portions 50 permitting the pressurized breathing mixture contained in storage tank 18 to be emitted into the cap 12. Rotation of the actuating cap 46 will accordingly control the amount of breathing mixture to be discharged into the cap to be available for the person using the respiratory helmet.

Located in a suitable position on the cap 12, at the rear thereof, for example, is a transverse aperture 54, see Figure 4 for example, which opens to the exterior of the cap 12, and suitably secured in circumposed relationship on the exterior of the cap 12 surrounding the aperture 54 is a one-Way valve assembly indicated generally at 56 which may comprise a conventional flutter-valve indicated at 58, and which will be disposed in the dotted line position shown in Figure 4 permitting the exhaust of stale air as the wearer breathes.

Thus there has been disclosed a novel respiratory helmet which is readily and economically manufactured, easily used, and fully conforming with the objects of invention heretofore set forth.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications.and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A respiratory helmet comprising a transparent cap for disposition in circumposed relationship about a wearers head, said cap including a lower integral transverse wall having an expansible apertured portion extending therethrough for receiving the wearers head therethrough and sealingly engaging his neck, a storage tank in said cap for containing a pressurized breathing mixture, valve means interposed between the interior of the storage tank and the interior of said cap for controlling the flow of breathing mixture into said cap, and a one-way exhaust valve in the cap permitting contaminated air to be expelled from the interior of said cap as a user breathes therein.

2. In a respiratory helmet as set forth in claim 1 wherein said storage tank comprises an annular, torus-shaped tube integral with the cap and disposed about the lower inner periphery thereof adjacent the inner surface of the transverse wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,150,460 Schreiber Aug. 17, 1915 

